Values and Creative Thinking: 59.101-214  Fall 2008

 

 

 

Professor:         Imogene Stulken

Office:              Fox Hall 527B

Conference:      Before and after class or by appointment

Class Hours:     Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM

Class Room:     PA 400, UMass Lowell North

Telephone:        978-934-5014

E-mail:              Imogene_Stulken@uml.edu

Website:           http://faculty.uml.edu/istulken/

 

   

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purpose:

            The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the university and to provide information and experience that will promote and support academic success.

 

Course Goals:

•  to identify the source of your values, the role experience has played in developing these values and the role values will play in your educational and life choices

•  to perceive the role college plays in refining values and developing the desire and 

            skills for your lifelong learning

•  to develop the skills essential for critical thinking, creative thinking, and problem-

         solving

 

Required Textbooks:

            Riesen, John, John Szarlan, and Suman Singha.  Case Studies for First-Year Experience Students. Belmont, CA: Thomson /Wadsworth, 2003.

           

            Pausch, Randy and Jeffrey Zaslow. The Last Lecture. New York, NY: Hyperion, 2008.

 

E-mail:

Students are expected to use their UML e-mail accounts or to have their UML account forwarded to a personal account.  Class information and reminders will be sent via e-mail.

 

Attendance:

            Attendance in the course is mandatory.  Students are expected to be present for each class, as guest speakers will often be present.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class.  If you will be absent due to religious observances or personal reasons, notify the instructor in writing as early as possible in the semester and always prior to the day(s) you will be absent. If you need to be absent due to an emergency, e-mail the instructor and leave a voice-mail message.

Grading:

           

 

% of your final grade

Attendance

5 %

Participation and Classroom Behavior

15 %

Average of:

 
  • Homework

20 %
  • Major Papers and Presentations

45 %
  • Quizzes and In-class Work

15 %

 

Participation:

            Each day, students are expected to:

  • come to class with their homework completed
  • contribute to discussions
  • answer and ask questions
  • respect classmates’ opinions and ideas

 

Electronic Devices:

            While each class is in session, students are required to have all electronic devices turned off. Devices used during class are subject to confiscation by the instructor until the end of class.  The use of electronic devices during class time can result in the reduction of points for that day’s participation and classroom behavior.

 

Homework:

            Homework is assigned most nights, and is due the next class. Please check the syllabus each night for the assignment. Homework will be collected at the beginning of each class; do not expect to have time to do it in class.

 

Exams:

            Papers will take the place of midterm and final exams. These papers are expected to be top quality.  Please work hard, as these will determine a large portion of your grade.

 

Project:

            A class project will be assigned early in the semester.  Each student will give an oral presentation on the project.  A final product will be submitted near the end of the semester.

 

Submission of Written Work:

The midterm and final papers are to be uploaded to the “turn it in” (www.turnitin.com) Website.  This Website is a tool for both students and professors in prevention of plagiarism and in bettering your academic writing skills.  You can upload your papers to the Website in many formats.  The first time you log in to “turn it in” you will have to create a profile using the class code and password provided to you in class.  Besides uploading your papers to the Website you are to e-mail a copy to the instructor and to turn in a hard copy at the beginning of the class.

 

Note: Any changes in this syllabus are at the discretion of the instructor.